Getting Organized
(featured column)

8 Cool Holiday Organizing Tips

by Maria Gracia

Now that the holidays are here, make it a goal to avoid holiday stress. Get organized with these simple tips, and spend your time enjoying the warmth of the season.

*  *  *

Don't you just hate when you're getting ready to bake and you can't get those small vanilla extract bottles open? Simply grip the cap with a nutcracker and it will be off in an instant. This is a great time saver! (Works well with nail polish bottles too!)

Make written (or typed) lists for the holidays and it will be much easier to remember everything. Excellent lists to have this time of year are gift lists, budget lists, meal planning lists, holiday card lists, lists to tell you where you stashed your gifts, event lists and activity lists.

Avoid malls on the weekends when they're most crowded. If possible, shop during the weekdays, and shop early in the day. Avoid the post office on Saturdays, and during lunch hours. Better yet, stay home and do all of your shopping from the Internet or mail order catalogs. You can get almost anything you want these days, from the comfort of your own home.

Need a little bit of help organizing your house, and keeping it organized this month? Your kids could help. Tell them that Santa only comes to an organized house. No matter how young or old your kids, the ultimate message is still clear. If everyone helps out, the season will be merrier.

Need to wrap a very large gift, and wasting time wondering how you're going to do it? Buy a large, paper, holiday tablecloth and use it to wrap your super-size gifts.

Rather than making the holidays a big production, if you're trying to save time and reduce stress, go the simple route. Cook simple dishes, or have meals catered. Meet everyone at a restaurant. Buy your meals pre-cooked from your supermarket. Ask everyone to bring over their favorite dish. Bake one or two varieties of cookies, instead of five. Think simple.

Don't you hate it when someone gives you a gift, and you have nothing to give in return? Buy a few general gifts that could be given to anyone. Videos, restaurant gift certificates, candy or nice stationery work well. Wrap the gifts, and write a very small code on the bottom of the gift so you'll remember what's inside. When someone drops by with a gift for you, you'll have an exchange in seconds!

Here are my top four ideas to do so:

*  *  *

Copyright © 2004 by Maria Gracia, author of Finally Organized Finally Free!

Want more money-saving tips?  Get a FREE Subscription to our monthly newsletter!